DIY Smoke Tester for Vac Leaks
#1
DIY Smoke Tester for Vac Leaks
As some background, I normally use a vac pump to do the initial testing
I use the vac pump to pull a vacuum and leave it for a few hours. If the vacuum is not lost no leaks
But to pinpoint a small leak it often easier to inject smoke into the system as you can visually see the leak
Here i show I made mine. Cost was $12 aud
What you need is
Sealed container
1 * Glow Plug
2 * Air Fittings
The only Item i needed to purchase was glow plug. Make sure you get a 12V one not a 24V one
For the container you can use an old paint tin, but I used an old pot with a sealing lid (don't tell her indoors!!!)
I drilled hole in the pot for the glow plug and bolted it in using a pair of washers
Before bolting in the plug I used a bolt to compress the side of the pot.
The pot is aluminum so this was easy done
As the sides are also tapered I jut bent the bolt up so it lined up parallel to the bottom
You can see this in the pics
You will also notice the glow plug is set off the bottom about 40mm
I use baby oil to produce the smoke which works really well.
You dont need to have the glow plug in the oil just near it. If it is in the oil it needs to heat all the oil before you get smoke.
On the lid I just drill 2 holes and inserted 2 Nitto air compressor fittings. I also used a washer either side and used some brass compressor fittings I had in the toolbox as nuts.
The lid itself did not seal that great so I just added a bead of sealant to produce a good seal when the lid is clamped on.
In one of the fittings I also glued in a short section of tube using selastic sealant.
This is the air inlet and I set the tube so its at the bottom of the pot but not touching
As the air comes in it goes down the tube and caused the oil to bubble and splash. This splashes it on the glow plug and instant smoke is the result
A word on pressure, no more than 3psi. A cheep compressor is good but turn don the regulator to the absolute minimum
Using the tester
1. Fill with baby oil close to but not over the glow plug
2. Attach the lid, air hose (max 3psi), and a tube to the outlet
3. Remove the Intake hose from the airbox and plug with pressure pack can lid (or similar)
4. Connect the smoke pots outlet to a hole on the plug in the intake hose
5. Turn on the air and power the glow plug
DONT run the engine!!!!
Cheers
34by151
I use the vac pump to pull a vacuum and leave it for a few hours. If the vacuum is not lost no leaks
But to pinpoint a small leak it often easier to inject smoke into the system as you can visually see the leak
Here i show I made mine. Cost was $12 aud
What you need is
Sealed container
1 * Glow Plug
2 * Air Fittings
The only Item i needed to purchase was glow plug. Make sure you get a 12V one not a 24V one
For the container you can use an old paint tin, but I used an old pot with a sealing lid (don't tell her indoors!!!)
I drilled hole in the pot for the glow plug and bolted it in using a pair of washers
Before bolting in the plug I used a bolt to compress the side of the pot.
The pot is aluminum so this was easy done
As the sides are also tapered I jut bent the bolt up so it lined up parallel to the bottom
You can see this in the pics
You will also notice the glow plug is set off the bottom about 40mm
I use baby oil to produce the smoke which works really well.
You dont need to have the glow plug in the oil just near it. If it is in the oil it needs to heat all the oil before you get smoke.
On the lid I just drill 2 holes and inserted 2 Nitto air compressor fittings. I also used a washer either side and used some brass compressor fittings I had in the toolbox as nuts.
The lid itself did not seal that great so I just added a bead of sealant to produce a good seal when the lid is clamped on.
In one of the fittings I also glued in a short section of tube using selastic sealant.
This is the air inlet and I set the tube so its at the bottom of the pot but not touching
As the air comes in it goes down the tube and caused the oil to bubble and splash. This splashes it on the glow plug and instant smoke is the result
A word on pressure, no more than 3psi. A cheep compressor is good but turn don the regulator to the absolute minimum
Using the tester
1. Fill with baby oil close to but not over the glow plug
2. Attach the lid, air hose (max 3psi), and a tube to the outlet
3. Remove the Intake hose from the airbox and plug with pressure pack can lid (or similar)
4. Connect the smoke pots outlet to a hole on the plug in the intake hose
5. Turn on the air and power the glow plug
DONT run the engine!!!!
Cheers
34by151
Last edited by 34by151; 05-16-2014 at 01:42 AM.
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#3
New Copy of the pics as the old sharing site removed them
https://www.4shared.com/photo/tUKOa3...41742_202.html
https://www.4shared.com/photo/lDxDQd...42854_599.html
https://www.4shared.com/photo/CyCI2q...42921_357.html
Cheers
34by151
https://www.4shared.com/photo/tUKOa3...41742_202.html
https://www.4shared.com/photo/lDxDQd...42854_599.html
https://www.4shared.com/photo/CyCI2q...42921_357.html
Cheers
34by151
#4
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